Xiao Rui quietly did his job, accompanied his aunt Li Yaozhi for half a day, and took time to have a meal with his friend Dong Huiwu, who he hadn't seen for a long time.

A few days ago, Dong Huiwu fell ill and looked a lot thinner. Xiao Rui didn't dare to let him drink more, but persuaded him to eat more.

Dong Huiwu briefly told Xiao Rui about the recent news in Beijing, and sighed: "Because I want to recuperate, I go out less, and I haven't heard much news, this is all found by the people below, I don't know how useful it can be, I hope I can help you." ”

Xiao Rui smiled: "This is already very good. I have been trapped in the lake for so long by the flood and the epidemic, and I don't know anything about the outside world, and I don't know who to ask for help except you. ”

Dong Huiwu leaned closer and asked him in a low voice: "Your old man plans to transfer you to Changhuaiwei, is it true or false?" Changhuaiwei is a good place, one of the three Davids in the world, Changhuai is prosperous, compared to Jinshanwei and other places that can only blow the sea breeze and eat salted fish, but it is a hundred times stronger! ”

Xiao Rui smiled: "That's what my father said, but the order hasn't come down yet, who can say for sure?" I would like to see more in the north, if I can earn a military merit and come back, I can be promoted in the future without relying on the grace of my family, and I will be more relaxed when I speak out in the army. ”

Dong Huiwu shook his head and said, "I know you are good at martial arts, but if you fight like this, you will die!" If you can be promoted safely and steadily, why do you have to risk your life? Even if it rises more slowly, it's nothing. Your Lao Tzu is not bad to you, although Xiao Cong does not really care about you as a brother, but he is not mean, he will always arrange a good future for you in the future, why should you risk your life? If there is a case, who will your aunt rely on in the future? ”

Xiao Rui smiled and didn't answer, but said, "Is this kind of thing up to me?" What are you bothering about me? ”

He changed the topic and discussed with Dong Huiwu about the new gadgets in Beijing and the latest news. Dong Huiwu didn't seem to be so interested in eating, drinking, and having fun, so he said a few words casually, and then turned back to Xiao Rui: "The Third Highness in the palace seems to be quite busy recently. You are not by his side, he is not lonely at all, mingling with the sons and daughters of several royal mansions, and turning his head and going to the poetry meeting with the children of several important ministers, the popularity suddenly became very good, I heard that the shot is also quite generous, and there are literati who make poems for him, praising him for his benevolence and talent! ”

Xiao Rui paused: "Oh? Really? It's also a good thing that His Royal Highness can find a new playmate. When I leave the capital, I can walk with peace of mind. ”

Dong Huiwu gave him a blank look: "Don't pretend to be stupid here!" I don't believe it, you can't see what the Third Highness is trying to do! Now the Cao and Lin families are fighting fiercely, although the second prince will come out from time to time to stand for the Lin family, but on the Cao family's side, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really rarely says good things for them, and almost all of them are worried about the queen mother and the Cheng'en Hou Mansion. Originally, the Cao Lin family competed with each other, and on the surface, it had nothing to do with the two emperors and nobles, but for some reason, there was a saying in Beijing, pointing out that no matter who was right or wrong, the Cao Lin family was for their own selfish interests, and they ignored the national law and the people. No matter which of them becomes the new king, the court and the people will suffer! Listen, apart from the Third Highness of your family, who else can make up such words? He's too bold, isn't he?! ”

Xiao Rui frowned: "Is this rumor very popular?" ”

"Anyway, I don't hear many other children talk about it in private." Dong Huiwu pouted and said, "Seriously, I can understand the mood of the Third Highness. Heavenly Prince, who doesn't want that chair? If the two elder brothers above are more reliable, it may be a bit too much for the Third Highness to think so. But the two above have their own shortcomings, and they have been frequently ugly recently, and it is normal for the Third Highness to have some ideas. I am my father's eldest son, and I am not willing to give up the position of the son of the world to the younger brother born to my mother, not to mention that the third highness is still the emperor's flesh and blood?!

"Just...... This shouldn't be done, he's too anxious! demoted the two princes at once, who can't guess that it was the rumors he put behind his back? You can't suspect that the fourth prince is only eight years old, right?! But can't he wait? If you want the fisherman to profit, you have to wait until the crane and the mussel are really defeated, and then it's not too late to make a move, right?! Now that he is so impatient, if those two find out, can he have his good fruit to eat?! ”

Xiao Rui was silent for a while before asking Dong Huiwu, "Is there any special news in the palace recently?" Is it about the princes? "My aunt didn't mention it, my father didn't say it, he thought it was nothing. can look at the eagerness of the third prince, could it be that something has changed in the palace?

Dong Huiwu thought for a while: "It's nothing, isn't it just that the queen mother and Lin Zhaoyi are fighting against each other, and the second prince is desperately trying to show himself in front of the emperor?" After the prince decided on the candidate for the crown princess, he didn't do anything. However, he and the crown princess who did not pass through the door were rarely in love, and he didn't know how that Miss Xue charmed him, and she still corresponded with him every day after leaving the palace. The queen once asked the prince not to write to Miss Xue, and the prince agreed, but in fact, he wrote it in private, and from time to time he also sent some clothes, jewelry, and tonics, which was really heartfelt! Speaking of which, it's not that I haven't seen the eldest granddaughter of Mrs. Xue, and I don't think it's a rare beauty? Even if it is talent and talent, it is not very outstanding. Why did the prince like her so much? For the prince to choose such a princess, the queen mother is said to have lost her temper for several days! ”

Xiao Rui frowned: "Even if the crown prince likes the princess who has not passed through the door, there is no order to enter the palace to say goodbye to your family now, how can you still know this news?" Who released it? ”

Dong Huiwu was stunned for a moment, and slowly began to feel that something was wrong: "Yes, who released these news?" The private affairs of the East Palace, those palace maids and eunuchs can't be so bold, and the subordinate officials of the East Palace won't be long-tongued women, right? As for the Cao family...... The queen doesn't seem to like this future daughter-in-law very much, and there is no reason to publicize how her son likes this daughter-in-law outside. As for the Xue family, why is there any need to spread such words, it seems that his daughter is not very dignified and reserved? ”

Is it a rumor that someone deliberately put out? But what can be accomplished by doing so? Could it be that it can ruin the reputation of the future crown princess and ruin her marriage? Could it be that he did it in the family of the lady who lost the battle for the crown princess?

Dong Huiwu said: "The prince finally chose three beauties, among which the granddaughter of the eldest princess of Lechang was not liked by the queen mother, and the queen also disliked her bad temperament, so she was the first to be kicked out of the palace; The daughter of Shouchang Bofu was defeated at the last moment, and she almost became the prince Liangdi. However, although her family has long been defeated, in the end, it is the daughter of the Bofu who makes a side room for the prince, and the daughter of the Xue family can't suppress her, so she also asked Miss Xue to kick her out of the palace, and she didn't even catch a good yuan. It would not be surprising to say that they hated the daughter of the Xue family and deliberately let these rumors go out to slander her reputation. But...... Aren't they afraid that they will anger the nobles in the palace? Their family can't be that stupid, right?! ”

Xiao Rui was noncommittal, but turned to ask another person: "What news has the four princes had recently?" ”